Dignity

12.10.12

Family of Suicide Nurse Jacintha Saldhana Appear in Public

Dignity of bereaved husband and his two children

Holding a photograph of his dead wife in one arm, with the other curled protectively around his 14-year-old daughter, Benedict Barboza, 49, the husband of Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who killed herself after falling for a prank phone call, cut a dignified and tragic figure as he attended a meeting in the House of Commons in London with Britain's leading Asian member of parliament, Keith Vaz today.

Just hours earlier Mr Vaz had publicly accused her employer of failing to support them on BBC radio, suggesting that the radio DJs were being offered more support than Jacinthah's family.

Mr Barboza, a hospital accountant, embraced Mr Vaz before he went into the House of Commons with him and his family members for a meeting. Mr Vaz emerged later on and said: "They are extremely grateful to the public here in the UK and throughout the world who have sent them messages of condolences and support following the death of Jacintha - a loving mother and a loving wife. This is a close family - they are devastated by what has happened. They miss her every moment of every day."

Prime Minister David Cameron today described Ms Saldanha's death as "an absolute tragedy".

Asked about the incident at a Westminster lunch, Mr Cameron told the Daily Mail: "I thought it was completely shocking, the news when I heard that about the suicide of this nurse, who worked incredibly hard and obviously was incredibly dedicated. I feel incredibly sorry for her and her family. It is an absolute tragedy that this has happened and I am sure everyone will want to reflect on how it was allowed to happen."